Island



Aug. 19, 1924.

, A. SETZER ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY 7. m 1 x w w 1 ,v h m 5 7 1 0 M 0 az u a 1 fluid from the battery cell.

Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

ALBERT SETZER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHO'DE ISLAND.

ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY.

Application filed January 17, 1922.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT SETZER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, county of Providence, State of Rhode Island,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric StorageBatteries, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relatesto electric storagebatteries and consists in'animproved means for sealing the covers thereof to prevent leakage at theopenings through which the binding-posts project.

One object of the improvement is to provide means for effecting aleak-proof joint between the cover and the projecting posts to preventthe escape of the acid or other Another object of the improvement is toprovidea sealed joint which may be readily opened to allow the removaland replacenientof the cover without damage thereto.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a sealing-device whichmay be ad justed and looked in position to prevent it from becomingloose under vibration and 3 Further objects of the improvement are setforth in the following specification which describes a preferredembodiment of the in vention as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional View of the upper portion of abattery-cell showing my improved sealingmeans as applied to the coverand binding-posts thereof;

Fig. 2, a plan view of the sealing-cap;

Fig. 3, a vertical sectional View of the same taken on the line 33 ofFig. 2;

Fig. A, a plan view of the pillar-strap of the battery showing the postthereon. 7 Fig. 5, a perspective view of the locking key for the cap;

Fig. 6, a perspective View of the sealing cap washer; and

Fig. 7, a similar view of the packing gasket for the sealing-cap.

My improved sealing-device is adapted for use with practically allstyles of storagebatteries and in Fig. 1 I have illustrated aconventional type of battery-cell which is enclosed within the usualhard-rubber jar 5.

Arranged in opposed relation within the jar 5 are the battery electrodescomprising the usual plates or grids -6 and 7 which are united at thetop'to flat metal pieces 8, sometimes called pillar-straps. Projectingup- Serial No. 529.920.

wardly from the straps 8 are the cylindrical posts 10 which are employedfor connecting the grids of a plurality of the cells in series and forbinding them to the terminals of the circuitin which the battery is tobe used. The pillar-straps 8 are arranged in hori zontal positionslightly below the top of the jar 5 and serve as rests or seats for acover 12 of hard-rubber or similar dielectric and acid-proof materialwhich fits down against the straps within the upper rim of the jar.

The cover 12 is preferably molded with relatively thin walls which-areribbed or recessed to provide the required strength and stiffness. Asherein illustrated the cover 12 is recessed at 15 along its sides andprovided with marginal flanges 14, the edges of which abut the innerwalls of the jar 5. In attaching the cover to the jar 5 a melted cementor sealing-compound, such as pitch or the like, is poured into therecess 15 and allowed to harden to seal the joint between the cover andthe walls of the jar. This method of sealing has also been quitegenerally employed for closing the joints between the cover and theposts 10 which project therethrough, but such a sealing-means has beenfound unsatisfactory when used for the post openings forthe followingreasons: In the first place, the shock and vibration to which. thebattery is subjected under road use in automobiles is liable to crack orbreak the seal and allow escape of the'liquid from the battery; andfurthermore with such a method it is well nigh impossible to unseal thecover from the posts without breaking it.

The grids or plates of the battery frequently require inspection andrepair and consequently it is desirable to provide a seal which willpermit convenient removal and replacement of the cover. W ith thispurpose in view I have now devised a novel and improved means forsealing the joints between the cover and the posts while providing forthe convenient removal and replacement of the cover. My improvement alsoincludes provision for adjustment of the sealing-means to insure aleak-proof joint, and an arrangement for locking the sealing-means toprevent it from becoming loose. The method of accomplishing theseobjects is as follows:

As shown in Fig. 1 the cover 12 is pro vided with circular recesses 16surrounding the posts 10 and adapted to receive the sealing-means forthe openings therethrough. The recesses 16 are provided by formingfrusto-conical cups or depressions 17 in the upper wall of the cover 12,the bottom walls of which are adapted to rest against the top of thepillar.-straps 8 and formed with circular openings 18 for receiving theposts 10. WVithin the tapered sides of each cup 17 I place a gasket 20,preferably constructed from unvulcanized rubber or similar compressiblematerial, and having'the form of a ring made cylindrical incrosssection. The gasket-ring 20 is preferably .of. slightly lessinternal diameter than the outside diameter of the post 103so that itwill cling snugly thereto when stretched therearound, and itscross-sectionalarea is such as to require. compression of the rubber toforce it into the space surrounding the post at the bottom of the recess16. Above thegasket 20 I place a relatively thin washer 21, preferablyconstructed of vulcanized rubber or like material, and adapted to slidefreely on the post 10. Above the washer 21 is placeda screw-cap or ring--nut 22 having tapered sides corresponding to the inclined sides of therecess 16 and provided with a flange 23 on its upper edge. The post 10is formed with a square screwthread 24 and the cap or nut 22 has itsbore correspondingly screw-threaded to lit the post. As shown in Figs. 2and 3, the threads 25 in the bore of the cap 22 are mutilated or cutthrough with vertical slots to provide key-ways 26 for a locking pin orkey 27 as illustrated in 5. The slots 26 are adapted to register with asin 'le spline or key-way 28 cut through t he threads 24 on the post 10,as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. The key 27 is preferablyrectangular in cross-section and provided with a head 29 at one end toadapt it to be pried out from the slots with a screw-driver or othertool.

The method of assembling the battery-cell with my improved cover-sealingmeans is as follows: The grids or plates 6 and 7 are placed in the jar 5resting on its bottom and standing in vertical position in alternateopposite relation, in accordance with the usual arrangement. The two..pillar straps 8 on the opposite sets ofrplates will thus be supported1n alinement in horizon tal position adjacent the opposite ends of "thejar 5, and slightly below its upper edge,

as shown in Fig. 1. The cover 12 is set in place across the'top of thejar 5 with the posts 10'projecting through its openings 18 and thebottom walls of the depressions or cups 17 resting on top of the straps8. The gasket-rings 20 are next slipped on over the posts 10 and crowdeddown into the space at the bottom of the recesses. 16. The washthegasket-s 20 and the caps or nuts 22 enthat the wireterminals may bereadil tightly against the rests or pillar-straps 8 while also sealingthe joint where the posts 10 project through the openings 18.

After the gaskets 20 have been forced into place in the/manner as aboveexplained the caps or ring-nuts 22 are lockedin. position by insertingthe'keys through the appropriate slots 26 in the threads of the nutwhich have been brought into register with the fixed slots or splines 28in the threads of the posts 10. The caps 22 are .thus caused to holdthe. gaskets 20 under compression and, bein locked against unscrewing,prevent any play or movement between the parts. After the cover has beensecured against the pillar-straps and the joints around the posts 10sealed in the manner as above described the rim of the cover may besealed to the sides of the jar 5 by any suitable method as, forinstance, pouring cement or sealing compound into the recess 15.

It will be observed from the foregoing description, that my improvementprovides a most effectual fastening-means for attaching the cover to thepillar-strap posts and for sealing the joints therebetween. Thesealing-devices are locked in place to prevent strain, while at the sametime'being adjustable to compensate for loss of compression if required.When it becomes necessary to remove the cover for inspection or repairof the cell the caps 22 may be unscrewed by withdrawing their keys 27.In this way the removal of the cover is effected by simply breaking theseal around its edge and without danger of rupturing the cover itself.After repairs have been made the cover is readily replaced and the sealapplied again in the manner as first explained.

It-is t benoted that the caps or attaching-means which secure the coverofthecell against the pillar-straps are enclosed within the recesses ofthe cover so'that theydo not project to any considerable extentabove thetop of the cell. This construction'leaves the binding-posts free fromobstruction so tached thereto without interference wit the otherelements. Furthermore, the terminal collars or binding-rings may be setclose down againstthe top of the cover so that there will be less-strainon the binding-posts and also less liability of the "connectionsaccidental release under shock or:

working loose. The arrangement also makes for a more compact and solidstructure with less liability of rupture or breakage of the batteryconnections.

It has been demonstrated in practice that my improved sealing-deviceprovides an absolutely tight, leak-proof joint which is impervious to,and proof against disintegration under the action of, the acid in thecell and which cannot be ruptured or broken by the vibration, shock orjar incident to hard usage. Furthermore, the sealing-means may be easilyapplied to the cover of the battery-cell and conveniently releasedtherefrom and used continuously during repeated opening and closing ofthe cell without impairing its efiiciency.

Various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement ofthe parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention and, there.- fore, without limiting myself in thisrespect, I claim:

1. In a battery cell, the combination with the electrodes thereof havingrelatively broad fiat connecting straps extending horizontallythereabove with terminal-posts projecting upwardly therefrom, of a coveroverlying the straps with its bottom resting thereagainst, said coverprovided with recesses on its top having central openings through whichthe posts on the straps project, compressible gaskets surrounding theposts within the recesses of the cover, means adjustable on the posts tocompress the gas kets within the recesses to seal the joints between theposts and cover, and means to positively lock said compression-means inadjusted position to prevent release of the gaskets under the efl'ect ofshock and strain.

2. In a battery cell, the combination of plate-like electrodes connectedat the top by relatively broad fiat pillar-straps having terminal-postsprojecting upwardly there from, a cover having a flat bottom restingagainst and supported by the straps and formed with tapered recesses Onits top provided with central openings through which the posts project,compressible gaskets surrounding the posts within the recesses,interiorly-threaded caps screwed down on the posts within the recessesto compress the gaskets to seal the joints between the posts and cover,and means to positively lock the caps from unscrewing 011 the postsunder the effect of strain and vibration.

3. In a battery cell, the combination of plate-like electrodes connectedat the top by relatively broad flat pillar-straps having terminal-postsprojecting upwardly therefrom, a cover having a flat bottom restingagainst and supported by the straps and formed with tapered recesses onits top provided with central openings through which the posts project,compressible gaskets surrounding the posts within the recesses,interiorly-threaded caps screwed down on the posts within the recessesto compress the gaskets to seal the joints between the posts and cover,said posts and caps having axially extending slots cut through theirthreads, and a key engaging the slots in the 7 post and cap to lock thecap from unscrew- In testimony whereof I afiix m signature.

ALBERT ETZER.

